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jupiter · Moderator

Yeah... Corns is only 25 yrs old.

I'm one of the "older crowd" to use "properties" cos forgotten liao. Mr. Green

Olden days not bad eh.... the National Parade come right to your doorstep!
Don't need to get ticket and dress code is casual! yeah

szhcornan73 · Diamond Member

You know me! five

Lai CF · Diamond Member

SINGAPORE: The government is tackling the problem of the widening income gap by making sure the needy have affordable homes.

There will be more rental flats for needy families over the next few years, and rates will be aligned to income so that these flats will go to those who need it most.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan has also painted a bigger picture of housing, where the experience of living in housing estates becomes the glue that bonds Singaporeans to the country.

Three- and four-room blocks at Boon Lay and Woodlands will be converted into 1,000 one- and two-room rental flats soon.

Another 1,000 rental flats will also be built over the next few years in both mature and new estates.

The Housing & Development Board's (HDB's) rental flats are heavily subsidised at a flat rate.

Households earning less than $800 every month pay $30 monthly rental for a one-room flat and $60 for a two-room flat.

There is also a need to align rental rates with household income to prevent abuse.

Mr Mah said: "Even as the government is committed to help the lower income, we are faced with a dilemma - how many times should we subsidise them? How much help is enough?

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From CNA today.

Excuse me, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong.

When my father bought that Lorong 7 3-room HDB flat in 1969 for a handsome sum of S$7,800 with S$50 pm mortgage payment, my father and my income combined for a total sum of slightly less than S$400 pm.

And after 41-years of PAP leadership which had brought our fantastic nation into a developed nation in 21st Century; after 37 years since 1969,

A SINGAPORE FAMILY EARNING s$800 PM CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A 3-ROOM HDB FLAT!!!!!!

Whereas, in 1969, with a combined income of about S$400 pm, my father can afford to buy a 3-room HDB flat in "prime area" Toa Payoh.

And PAP can proudly boast that SIngpaoreans are better-off than my father in 1969????

And sadly, 21st Century SIngpaoreans need to DOWN-GRADE, to lower their expectation and the best they can hope for is to upgrade from 1-room, 2-room rental flats to dreaming of buying their 2-room, 3-room and 4-room flats.

Whereas baby-boomers in the 70's and 80's dreamed of upgrading from their 3 -room to 5-room, executive and HUDC flats.

Singapore Dream 2006?

Eat yoru hearts out dear post-65ers and Millennium Generations.

AS I see SIngpaore is ehading more and more int eh direction of Macau where Service Industry si teh dominant employer; whereas SIngpaoreans survived like in the 50's as small stall-holders, eateries owners, ahwkers, "mom & pop" corner stores, grocers, etc..which will cosntitute 80% of oru Eocnomy by 2015.

2006 and beyond - Signpaoreans queueing up for jobs in IR, theme parks or applying for licence to open their own shops, bakeries, eateries, toruist lcience, hosuing agents, etc.

70's and 80's - Employers wooing SIngaporeans to work for them in the booming manufacturing sector, marine idnustry, oil & gas industry, statutory boards, hosiptality industry, transportation industry, financial industry, ICT industry, etc..

SIgh.....idneed, good things never last for more than 3 generations...

ah peh · Gold Member

Ah Peh thinks that when Lee Hsien Loong said "Singaporeans are
better off today", he was speaking about those Singaporeans whom
he came into contact with, whom he had met with the help of his
grass-root balls-carrying yes-men who only tell him the good things
but covered UP the bad aspects from his eyes and his knowledge.

We must not blame him because he didn't even know that there is
no "hum" in a plate of "mee siam". His up-bringing had been so
guarded, with 24-hour round-the-clock body guards, that he was at
no liberty to mix around freely with the commoners. How then can
we expect him to understand what suffering is, what welfare is, and
what leadership is?

Yes, he had gone through NS training. But what kind of "military"
leadership trainning did he received? We are in no position to know.

However, one thing we do know, since we have also gone through NS
training. We know that as a leader one must always look after the
morale and welfare of his troops. Otherwise, the troops will not fight
for you when the need arises.

So, I was totally shocked to hear someone openly uttered
"WELFARE is a DIRTY WORD"!

As far as I believe, no leader worth his salt would treat "Welfare" for his
troops or country-men with such blatant contempt. If he does, then he is
no leader whatsoever. He simply cannot be one that would inspire
followers to his cause.

No wonder the Old Despot has no confidence to let him go on a solo flight
by himself. The apron string must still be attached as a safety measure.

So, Ah Peh thinks tht we should not take it too seriously when the Bush,
who always bit about the bush, praises Singapore and its leaders.
He was only trying to be curteous, polite, kind and politically correct in the
eyes of the world at large.

Lai CF · Diamond Member

Indeed Ah Peh, it is all true as compared to my experience in the 50's.

before th 1959 GE, all thsoe old ladies were talking about this "young man" which they believe is sicnere abotu changing the livelihood for the better.

Thesesturdy old ladies, all self-employed (there were no jobs for them!!!), farming their own small patch of land, selling veggies in the market, doing a bit fo sewings here and there, etc....mostly housewives, very much dependable on a soel breadwinner, their husbands, have only ONE WISH.

A better future for their children.

They trusted Lee Kuan Yew, and he had delivered.
A better life for their children, in contrast to their hard life in the 30's, 40's and 50's.

And I trust that people like you, Ah Peh, will understand why baby-boomers, 45 and above, still support PAP when the Wise Old Man is still around.

He is still a symbol of what SIngapore has become, good or bad.

The decline of SIngpaore really started when Goh Keng Swee retired from poltiics, the retirement of Old Guards; and worst fo all, Goh Chok Tong Regime.

More and more, I look upon him as a "Seat Warmer", to consolidate the rapid growth of SIngapore, to allow a breathing space.
But he failed abysmally to grow SIngpaore from a low-tech labor intensive Economy to a high-paying hi-tech Economy.

The biggest disaster was the failure to build TWO EXTERNAL WINGS.
That is, a regional expansion and a global expansion.
And he left Lee Hsein Loong a legacy of Meritocracy System which created legions of exam-smart drones in Civil Services and heading our GLC and TLC expansion in the region and around the globe.
And it failed, hence our presence economic suffering.

And now, Lee Hsien Loong is left with drones, "innovative" leaders that managed by the numbers.

And so we retrogressed to the 50's where virtually 90% of Singpaore Economy is entreport, SERVICE INDUSTRY.

And so, by 2015, SIngpaore Economy is jsut liek Macau, a sanitised Macau that survive on its thriving gaming and hospitality idnustries which will provide myriads of business opportunities for Singpaoreans to start-up their souvenior shops, bakeries, eateries, foodstalls, "mom & pop" corner stalls, stationery stalls, etc.
This is what is meant by "entreprenuarial".

And so the whole cycle starts all over again.
Back to the Sin City 50's, albeit sterilise fun, but still a working Singapore.

My parent had a Lee Kuan Yew which empathised with the People, and provide Leadership.

Now, I have a Lee Hsien loong which can't distinguish "mee siam" from "laksa".
And demonstrated a lack of empathy, a quantum gap between Aristocracy and Serfdom, and an absurd lack of knowledge how serfdom live in Singapore.
And it reinforces my perception as "mee siam mai hum" came just after that infamous "It is only peanuts".

"mee siam mai no hum" is a classic, comparable to Marie Antionette "Let them eat bread".

"It is only peanuts" demonstrated the contempt that Arsitocracy has on all those whingeing Serfdom.

And further reinforced by that "get out of my uncaring elite face" by one of his Singa Princess.

And that lovely apology from her father" "Beneath all thsoe writings, there is an amount of truth.."

And this is what ails Singapore.

An Order by Coercion, as compared in the 50's where his father brought hopes to Serfdom.

alpha · Diamond Member

<Rigpa> · Silver Member

Lai CF · Diamond Member

Date: December 31, 2006 07:08AM

I was featured as “S$7,500.00 Not Enough” in TNP on April, 2004.
And my salary remained as “S$7,500 pm” till I went to work in Dubai with a homegrown consulting engineer firm in November 2005 with the following package:
• Basic Salary – S$6,500 pm
• Allowances - S$3,000 pm
• Perks – Free furnished accommodation and transport to work Site, tax-free salary
• No 13th month bonus, no gratuity at end-of-contract.

In 2006, I was offered employed in Singapore as Principal Engineer at S$7,500 pm, but as a Professional Engineer, I was expected to endorse drawings for submission to Authorities at no extra cost. No 13th-monht, subjected to “profitability of company”; which traditionally meant you are lucky to receive even “one-month bonus”.

And I can’t help but perceived as if all Singaporean firms insinuated that I am extremely lucky to even get a job in Singapore as I am over 50 years old. That is, they are all doing a favor to me just to employ me!

And so like a salmon, I had “out-grown” my clear-water stream and need to swim to the Ocean to grow into ‘Adulthood”.
There is no more “food” [opportunities] at home and I got to get out into the Big Wide World to earn more than S$100,000.00 per annum.

And here I am in Macau, negotiating with my present employer for a “big” increment to reach HK$1-million, or S$200,000.00, per annum before I return home in 2012 as a 62-years old retiree; grossing at least S$1-million in salaries, allowances, bonuses and gratuities.

Like a salmon, my homing instinct is to return to the place of my birth to “spawn” the next generation, and then die.

How far have I traveled from the stream of my birth to this Ocean?

I started work as a 15-year old apprentice on 04-April-1966 at H.M. Dockyard earning a handsome sum of S$132.00 pm.

And in a little more than 40 years in 2006, I was earning S$9,500 pm, an exponential increase of 7,197%.

And now, my ambition is to gross S$20,000 pm before I retire, that is, an exponential increase of 15,152%.

Can Singapore provide this type of opportunity to a salaried man in Singapore?
Apparently not, as I discovered to my horrors that in fact, Hongkongers are earning TWICE as much as Singaporeans.
And it is sheer exploitation on the part of Singaporean employers to leverage onto the 3rd World salaries of foreign talents from India, China, Bangladesh, Philippines, and now Vietnam and Myanmar, to moderate Singaporeans’ salaries to provide a “low-cost competitive” business environment to entice Foreign Direct Investments [FDI].

This is the brutal fact of life for Singaporeans.
Nobody owes you a living, and you must be contented with you lots in life in Singapore.

“TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT”, so said our PAP Government.

I left like a salmon.
But why then return like a salmon?

Because Singapore is home, and I it is where I belong no matter how long I stay away from it. No matter, whether I studied 3-year in England, worked 2-month in Oregon, USA, worked in Hanoi, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Dubai and Macau; it is my homing instinct that calls me back to Singapore.

But yet, I felt slowly that I am starting to disconnect from Singapore, to adjust to life outside Singapore, thinking of “what if I retire elsewhere…Macau? Malaysia? Australia?”

Singapore is no more home, just a Hotel where I returned regularly to catch-up on what is happenings. And as my children grow up and if they decide to leave Singapore as well, what is Singapore to me then?

As I am adjusting life to Singapore, as Macau is starting to improve its infrastructures, and perhaps in 5 to 10 years time, surpasses even Singapore in conveniences, medical care and conducive living environment, what incentive is there for me to return to Singapore when in 5 years time, I am so well-integrated into Macau way of life?

Therefore, as more and more Singaporeans are turning “salmons”, it is no more a game of “stayers and quitters” as it is a brain-drain as all able Singaporeans will leave to make their future elsewhere, and perhaps will return to retire in Singapore.

And worse, you are not only losing Singaporeans, but their children as well.

And Singapore will revert to its original 19th Century beginning as a Nation of Immigrants, where “foreign salmons” are only interested to gather wealth for them to return to their homes to retire.
And Singaporean Salmons will be harvested by other nations to drive their Economy to compete with Singapore.

How to entice Singaporean Salmons to return home?
Like what South Korea, Taiwan, and even China are successful to entice their Salmons or “Sea Turtles” to return home?

1) Review the present NWC Policies of capping the “salaries” to compete against the likes of Malaysia, India and China. We should ask ourselves why Hong Kong salaries are twice that of Singapore, and yet still competitive?

2) Macau will be a strong competitor in the Service Industry and facing a severe work-force shortage. We should ask ourselves how can a small “red-dot”, less than 10% of Singapore in size, can overtake Las Vegas in gambling revenue turnover.

3) And like myself, be prepared to lose all your hospitality skilled to Macau who can offer TWICE of what Singaporean firms are willing to pay. We employ “cheep cheep foreign salmons” again when Singapore Salmons swam to Macau?

4) Reduce the onerous burden to Singaporeans in servicing their debt burden of a HDB mortgage loan. There is no “public subsidy” when you said “public land is priced to market value”. Public housing price should cap to not more than 10 times of average Singaporean annual salary.

5) If based on Meritocracy where PAP Government is paying two-third “market values” to woo the Brightest to serve the Nation; surely the reverse can be done to help the average Singaporeans by capping Singapore public housing land price to not more than one-third of “average private land prices in rural areas of Lim Chu Kang, Kranji, Semebawang, Punggol, Tuas and Jurong West”?

6) Macau citizen pays no income tax. By all means, increase your GST to 7%, 10% and even 20%. But please, as the average Singaporean per capita is S$36,000 per annum, I will suggest as follows:
• Exempt the first S$36,000 income of Singaporeans from income;
• And tax the rest at not more than 6% for first S$100,000,
• 9% for next S$100,000, and so on to maximum of 15%.

7) Free education for Singaporeans to secondary schools and JC.

8) Polytechnic capped at S$3,000 per annum; and universities not more than S$6,000 to S$10,000 per annum. Why capped them?

9) For Singaporeans like me that married late, when I am a 62-years old retiree,

• My eldest will only be into their 2nd Year in the Polytechnic.
• My 2nd child is only Secondary 4.
• My 3rd child is only Secondary 3.

10) Am I being punished for heeling PM Goh’s call to “Stop at 2, but 3 if you can afford it”?

11) Free medical-care at polyclinic for babies and toddlers before they enter Primary school. Introduce whole-day primary school and free lunches for these primary school children.

12) Build Singapore Euthanasia Centre for those who exercise their “Rights to Die” after 80-years old; for those terminally-ill, those chronically-ill elderly; especially when your CPF funds run out and you do not want to be a financial-burden to your children.

13) Otherwise, it is social welfares to keep all those “useless” senior citizens alive, isn’t it?

That is, those Singapore Salmons will return to affordable retirement in Singapore, a home they will still return based on instinct.

Affordable public housing,
Affordable geriatric medical care and the “Right to Die”,
Affordable cost of living,
Affordable tertiary education.

Isn’t it too much for this Singaporean Salmon to ask from PAP Government?

And if Dr. Maliki still insisted to ask me;
”Ask not what the Nation can do for you, ask what you can do for the Nation…..” my reply in 2004 at Feedback Unit Forum is as follows:

Maliki, on your John Kennedy quotation “…..ask what you can do for your country”, it is passé.

That quote will not hold for 21st Century Singapore as it is the duty of the Leader to engage People around an idea, to engage their hearts, their minds, that quality that will persuade People to follow.

I quote you Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1:
- Glendower: “I can call spirits from the vast deep”.
- Hotspur: “Why, so can I, or so can any man;
- But will they come when you do call for them?”

Will this Singapore Salmon returns when you call him to return to “serve the Nation”?

More importantly, will he still fine that "clear water spring" stream when he returns home?

Do you believe in Fairy Tales?

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Re: Singaporean Salmons
Posted by: Lai CF (IP Logged)
Date: December 31, 2006 07:47AM

My reply to Feedback Unit Forum on 04-Nov-2006 on their question:

In conclusion, PM Lee underscored the importance for public officers to intuitively understand and apply these principles in the course of their daily work. These principles will also help by creating a common basis from which we can tackle and solve the many difficult issues which arise in governing a country.

What do you think of these principles of governance? Do you agree that it will help take Singapore forward in the era of globalisation? Let's hear your views.

It expressed my bitterness on the "high-handedness" in my dealings with PAP Government; and my determination to turn "salmon" and seek the "wide Ocean" to ensure that my children will not fall into the same Gilded Cage as me.

I will give my children the choice to stay or to leave Singapore Limited.

I can't as I grow too attached to Singapore as my HOME. like the natural homing instinct of salmons to their place of birth.

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In order to make Singapore a land of opportunity, a home we love, a community we belong to, and a country we are proud to call our own, the Government works on the following principles of governance:

1) Leadership is Key

Conceptualization:
A servant-leader seeks to nurture his ability to “dream Great Dreams”.
He must also have the ability to seek that delicate balance between conceptual thinking and a day-to-day focused approach.
The test of the greatness in a Dream is that it has the energy to lift People out of their moribund ways to a level of being and relating from which the future can be faced with more hope than most of us can summon today.

Now, does PM Lee walk the talk with so much emphasis nowadays on “Conceptualization” and “Stewardship” to build a better Singapore for our Future Generation?

87 days had come and gone since August 12, 2004. And all I hear are “old speeches and policies” from MM and SM.
PM just “mouthing” all those standard speeches and well, just a repeat of MM and SM past policies, status quo and no forward movement.

Where is PM Lee going to grasp the Leadership and holds the rein of power?

My perception is that the PM seem lost, with a baffled expression, and there is no VISION which I can grasped and which I can translate to my children there is a future here rather than being just a DIGIT in Singapore Limited.

Leadership is THE key, and sadly, the scorecard is 0 upon 10.

Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision, the people perish,”

Stewardship:
Roughly defines as “holding something in trust for another”.
It is the assumption that first and foremost a commitment to serving the needs of others. It also emphasizes the use of openness and persuasion, rather than control.

How then PM Lee is going “to use of openness and persuasion, rather than control” that bitter medicine is necessary whereas the perception of the People is that PAP Government policies is to squeeze in order to “fatten” the GLC?.

How can I have confidence in a Government that still need S$1 million plus bait to lure Singaporeans to serve in the Cabinet, and believing we need monetary rewards for them, like mercenaries, to fulfil “the assumption that first and foremost a commitment to serving the needs of others”.

After 40 years of nation building, do we still need those millions to “force” commitments instead of inculcating a “duty to serve” to attract them?

2) Anticipate Change and Stay Relevant

I believe in it since MM national Day speech on Sony “50-year strategy plan” policy.

Domestic Policy:
The practice of consensus will be a good start.
The much-applaud policy of an “Inclusive Singapore” is excellent.
But how to anticipate change when the PAP Government is still perceived as practicing “Nanny Knows Best” policy.
The fear factor of speaking out is still very much in place, no thanks to the on-going JBJ and CST litigation saga.

As long as PAP Government does not dispel this “Fear Factor”, the People will not believe in an “Inclusive Singapore”. And a great majority of diverse views will be lost for Government to “anticipate change”.

Government must be seen as wooing and persuading the People to accept “bitter medicine” policies, and not to force onto the People.
Or perceive as to “organize opinions and force acceptance as it is the only choice, it is to your best interest”.
Lots more PR is required to “hard sell” policies to dispel this “force feeding” image.

Government must practise consensus to reinforce the People’s belief that their opinion is “relevant”.
A good start on “policy transparency” is to hold a referendum for all Singaporeans to vote on as to whether to lift or not to lift the ban on casino.
Not the usual way for this very controversial topic by letting a Committee of “Competent Persons” to decide for the whole of Singapore.

Foreign Policy:
Has Singapore changed sufficiently to stay relevant within ASEAN?
Has Singapore lost its arrogance as the only 1st World Nation in ASEAN and proclaiming we are still “15 to 20” years ahead of our regional competitors?

My firm belief is that our policies must change and give priority to work together, and to integrate, our Economy within ASEAN.
To practise “Neighbourliness” within ASEAN.
To start a “Marshall Plan” for ASEAN, analogous to that which kicked start America’s industrial and economical domination and brought so much wealth to America.

Isn’t ASEAN is like China 1978 today? Why not start building up a reservoir of goodwill in anticipation of a successful Malaysia 2020 and “newly industrialized” Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam within 20 years time?

I perceive that Singapore had reached its limit of growth due to its size and limited population; and will continue to lose its relevant in the global market.
How do anticipate this change and motivate our People to re-structure our Economy within this region in anticipation of ASEAN Economy taking off in the near future?

Can we change our Singaporean “Superiority Complex” to play a supporting role as a service centre and traditional entreport to our regional hinterlands?

That is, we must anticipate that our neighbours will accelerate and overtake us in 15 to 20 years time; and Singapore can and will still remain “relevant” in this region.

We must anticipate that in future, we should obtain our “rice, bread and butter” from ASEAN; whereas China and India will provide the turkey bacon.

Therefore, Singapore better start thinking “Regionalisation” and Globalization as the two boosters that will help Shuttle Singapore to takeoff again.

3) Reward for Work, and Work for Reward

Compare these quotations to PM Lee’s saying above:
“In a country where the sole employer is the State, opposition means death by slow starvation. The old Principle: who does not work shall not eat, has been replaced by a new one: who does not obey shall not eat.” Leon Trotsky (1937)

Through education, material rewards, and elimination of the worst dissidents from society, the proletariat would grow until it was the only economic class in the Society.
Then the system would evolve into the classic Marxist Utopia: “An Economy in which the People give according to their abilities and take back according to their needs.”

Well, I will fully support PM Lee’s Vision of a classic Marxist Utopia for Singapore where we are One Class, One People, One Nation.

If not, I do not agree as it inferred that Singapore is one big company town where you are “Reward for Work, and Work for Reward” like a mouse on a treadmill.

I would like PM Lee to build an Altruistic Society and to follow the Socialist Intent:
- “The intention of abundance, equality, and sharing that will free people from material want.”

4) A Stake for Everyone, Opportunities for All. All Singaporeans count

I would like PM Lee to add “All Singaporeans count.”

I have no stake in this Nation:
- I rented my home 99 years from Government.
- That is, I have no stake left for my children.

How do your define “stake” for everyone where an average young couple needed 20 to 30 years mortgage loan? Just an endless stream of financial worry and worry about one’s “employability” when in our 50’s.
It gives the people a sense of helplessness with no control over their lives, except to work, and work, and work….until death. Not living in Singapore but merely to survive and exist once you started a family.
Our existence is merely to procreate another generation like a mindless beast.

I would suggest as follows:
1) Start to price HDB flats such that it can be paid off by a dual income young couple within 10 years.
2) Provide peace of mind to those in their 50’s that there are employment opportunities for them as well. Not as perceive today that the “Old and Useless” should be discarded as cost-saving measures, and Singapore is only for the Young and “Economically-Productive”.
3) Be fairer on using Foreign Workers to mitigate our “high cost” labour. That is, introduce a minimum wage scheme to ensure that unscrupulous employers will not exploit this “loop holes” and employed wholly cheep cheep foreign workers.
4) A good example should be set by GLC by employing a certain percentage of workers in their 50’s; with Government subsidizing part of the wage costs; like Government is subsidizing NSS and maternity leaves, via grants, tax write-off, modified MYE, etc.
5) That is, raise the morale of the older workers and give them belief that they have a stake in this Nation and there are opportunities abound even for them.

Alas, I can only see PM Lee maintaining the status quo with no opportunity for my children having “a stake in this Nation”.

Without any Vision from PM Lee yet, I see simply, simply the coming decline of Singapore, losing its vibrancy and just drift back into the backwaters akin to the 1950’s.

Does PM Lee believe Every Singaporeans count?
I don’t think so basing on my bitter experience.

In summary, your “Four Principle of Governance” has no meaning to me as I am a victim of the whim and fancy of your public officers who had destroyed my joy of living in a green and quiet ambience when they deemed it is necessary to install the MRT tunnel vent shaft and cooling towers 15 meter away from my living room.

I cited this as an example of despite all PM Lee “talks”, none of the public officers “walked PM Lee talks”.
Common People like me just grinned and bear it.

In silence we suffered, listening to your speeches and cynically replied: “Hogwash”.

Dear PM Lee, can you convince a 2nd Generation Singaporeans like me that my children have a future in Singapore as a citizen and not some drone and working bee in present Singapore Limited?

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Re: Singaporean Salmons
Posted by: Lai CF (IP Logged)
Date: December 31, 2006 08:03AM

Here is the "give and take" debates at Feedback Unit Forum, starting on 13-Nov-2004 and expressed my bitterness as to why I can't retire even if I am 62-years old if I continue to work in Singpaore, isntead of workign oversea.

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If I can afford to, I will retire at this instance and laze around, and maybe join Servant at his coffee tiam.

Your competitors, if you are in the 30’s or 40’s, are those foreigner talents who are happy to work in Singapore at 40% to 60% of your salary.

I know, because I employed them to reduce operational costs.

If retirees are willing to work beyond 62-years old, I will prefer them anytime over Singaporeans in their 30’s or 40’s.
Advantages:
- With their vast experience and skills, no retraining required.
- I can pay ‘em low and also reduced medical benefits.
- No reservist training or maternity or paternity leaves.
- I paid them as daily-rated worker. Work for Reward and Reward for Work.
- Proven loyalty as they wouldn’t job-hop like new staff after of training.
- Flexibility in company “hire and fire” policy.
- For robust and manual work, I employed foreign talents.

For example, I was in America where this consultant was awarded a multi-million public contract. Their work will peak for one year.

Solution?
They recalled all their retired staff (extremely experienced and productive!!!) from engineers to designers to CAD operators to work on this project.
Upon completion, these pensioners “re-retired” again.

Outsourcing?
Yes, they supplemented engineers, designers and CAD operators from India because Singaporeans were too “expensive” or unavailable or do not have those skills; which those Indians possess in abundance and at a very much cheaper unit costs than Singaporeans.

Therefore, do not be display this youthful arrogance, claiming that those Singaporeans retirees are blocking the career path of those 30’s and 40’s Singaporeans.
Nobody can block your career path if you have the necessary skills and experience.

Instead, question your skill and capability to compete against Foreigner Talents.

If Youthful Singaporeans cannot compete with those expensive Singaporean Dinosaurs on merit alone, how the heck do you all Young Singaporeans compete against Foreigner Talents whose unit cost is 40% to 60% of yours?

Put it this way.
Any well-run and well-managed companies will have a “replacement” plan, in readiness to replace that key staffs that are due to retire.
Even traditional family-run businesses will have all their Western-educated scions, nephews, nieces, etc understudy and on standby to replace the retirees.

Anybody who has the requisite skills and experience will replace retirees anytime. This is called rejuvenation.

Nobody is irreplaceable.
Those who are irreplaceable, usually senior staff, will chose retirement anytime instead of continuing working, or had already left and started their own business.
Those in Civil Service will of course retired at 62 year old;
and of course will be replaced by those scholars.
For those “irreplaceable”, Government policy is usually to appoint them as Mentor to the understudy.

Actually, it is GLC and Civil Service that practise “ageism” for the past few years by corporatization, “golden hand-shakes” and moving in those Superscale “G” 30-something to replace those over 50’s senior staff.
If you are a scholar, attained Superscale “G” in your 30’s, you are on the right track.

Therefore, it is those salaried staff, who still have to pay off their mortgage loans and young children still studying, will still need full-time employment even after 62 year-old.
Else how to pay for Maslow’s First Law on basic needs:
- “Food, clothe and shelter”.
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Do you envisage Singapore 2010 as a Brave New World where a Singaporean’s working life is:
- Upon reaching 62-year old, mandatory retirement. Finito.
- Sorry, no job for you. Last in queue, behind those in their 40’s and 50’s.
- Well, you can always sell away your HDB flat and paid off your mortgage.
- Children education. Cannot pay? Why, leave school then and work.
- Plenty of jobs in our construction and marine industries for youngsters.
- Sick, used up Medicare? Take 2 panadols and called me when you have funds.
- Children still young? Who ask you to get marry when you cannot afford to?

Then, I wish you all well when you reach 62-year old and retired in this Brave New World of Singapore.

Oops…I forgot……did I hear before that we are suppose to build a gracious society, kindness and of course……

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An Altruistic Society?
Do you think this is only a fairy tale?

Let’s look at some cost.
Said you got married in 2004 at 30-year old, average family income over 30 years working period is $60,000 per annum.

That is, your total earning before retirement is S$1,800,000.00
Your operating expenditure:
1) But HDB 5-room, 30 years loan, renovation, furniture, S&C, utilities bill, etc…
S$500,000 total.

2) 2 children, from infant to uni education..total cost is $600,000.00

3) Paid income tax, TV licence, etc..say 15% or $270,000.00

4) Household & grocery bill at $12,000 per annum = $360,000.00 for 30 years.

5) Then 30-year total operating expenditure = S$1,730,000.00.

6) Total saving: $1,800,000 – $1,730,000 = $70,000.00

7) CPF from Employer, say 15% average = $270,000.00

8) That folks, is all you will have at 62-year old = $340,000.00

God help you if you have 3 children. You need another S$300,000.00.

How to we prepare for retirement, Gen-Y and Gen-Z?
How to cut cost?
Simple:

One: Do not have any children.

Two: Do not buy a home. Just rent.

Three: Do not fall sick.

Three: Make sure you have a job after 62 years old.

Four: Try not to live beyond 72 years old.

Now, you realize why this PAP Government had suddenly waked up to “High Cost Singapore” and trying to find ways and means to reduce our operating costs.

Starting first with our salaries and CPF contributions.

If Government does not introduce social welfarism (which means high taxes), I do not see any other recourse other than raising the retirement age to 65, then to 67 and eventually to 70.

The choice is stark.
Provide employment for those in their 60’s or increase taxation rates for Gen-Y and Gen-Y to fund the elderly care social welfare scheme.

What will the choice be?
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Car is a luxury item, which I deliberated, excluded.
If a person “rented” 3 no. 1600cc cars for 30 years, (10-year COE) then total expenditure is S$240,000.00; after discounting residual OMV.

If using public transport, average is about $2,400 per annum for a family of 4, which is S$72,000 for 30 years.

Latest CPF Contribution to-date is:
……………………………….Employer……………….Employee
55 years and below:…………13%………………………20%
Above 55 to 60 years………….6%……………………...12.5%
Above 60 to 65 years…………3.5%……………………..7.5%
Above 65 years………………..3.5%………………………5%

That is, Government had already in place mechanism to increase the retirement age from 62 to 65 years old as Phase 1.
Then, it will be from 65 to 67 and ultimately to 70 years old.

Nothing wrong as this is the trend in EU where Germany is considering increasing from 65 to 70 years old.
Other EU nations are considering increasing from 65 to 67 years old.
This is to ease their social welfare and pension payout problem.

In contrast, Singapore has no social welfare and no pension scheme; and the question the People should be asking is:

Why must “affluent” Singaporeans work beyond 62 years old to survive?
Is the CPF scheme completely flaw and has failed in its primary duty to provide “retirement funds” for Singaporeans to survive here?

Look at the 2003 average monthly earnings (excluding Employer CPF contributions):
Manufacturing:………………$3,265.00
Construction………………….$2,411.00
Wholesale & retail trade…….$2,831.00
Hotels & Restaurant…………$1,283.00

That is, the average family monthly salary of $5,000 is supposedly from “affluent” middle-class Singaporeans.
And yet after 30 years of working, they’re saving, at best:
- $70,000 (personal savings)
- $234,000 (13% Employer Contribution over 30 years)
- Less S$72,000 for transportation (assuming employer picked up all medical bills)

Then, less S$120,000 as minimum sum and $35,000 in Medisave, the cash available is S$78,000.00 only upon your retirement at 62 years old.

A minimum sum of S$120,000 with $500 per month payout would provide sustenance for 20 years.

That is, assuming after retirement, you live for another 20 years, to 82 years old.

BUT HOW TO PAY FOR MEDICAL CARE WHEN YOU REALLY NEED IT?

Therefore, it is not a matter of when can we retire but matters of can Singaporeans survive retirement?

Hence, Government incentive for companies to provide employment for older workers as follows:
- Drastically reduced CPF contributions (already in place)
- Drastically reduced medical benefits.

But then how to take care of elderly medical care costs?

If by 2030, 20% of 3 million will be over-65 years old; equate to 600,000 people.

At average costs of S$3,000, which equate to S$1.8 billion just to provide elderly medical care.
And this elderly medical care will be funded by increased taxes paid by Gen-Y and Gen-Z or thru’ Medishield and Medisave and forthcoming mandatory National Insurance Scheme?

This is the dilemma faced by Khaw Boon Wan today.
Where to get this money?
Funded by the Sentosa Casino?
Higher Medishield contribution and new National Insurance Scheme?

Or Government turned Socialist and provides every over-65 Singaporeans, who had paid income tax for 35 years or more, with a National Medicare Voucher (say S$1,000 to S$3,000 per annum) to mitigate this expected high medical cost for the over-65 years old.

Or alternatively, refined the Advanced Medical Directive with a “Right to Die” Attachment for those that is over-65 years old, with no CPF savings and “structurally unemployable”?

Therefore, in 1st World Singapore of 2030, you either work, regardless of age, or you starve.

Retirement is not an option.

Simply that this PAP Government still has no idea on how to reduce our housing costs and the “rearing” of children at S$300,000 per child.

And yet the solution is so simple to help struggling Singaporeans as follows:

1) Reduced HDB prices such that an average family income can pay off within 10 years.
2) As 85% population had already been housed, removed all HDB restriction to enable those middle-class, the “Sandwich” to downgrade to HDB flats.

3) Free education for all Singaporeans till JC level.
4) Cap tertiary education fees to not more than S$5,000 per annum.
5) Free textbooks for all students (which I understand is practiced in Austria).
6) Free medical care for children. E.g. issue them with a fixed sum Medical Care Voucher to prevent abuses.

7) Transportation? Cap the cost please by providing rebates to Singaporeans.
That is, all Singaporeans are stakeholders and enjoy the dividends from the “obscene” profit earned by SMRT and SBS Transit.
More or less, a “re-nationalized” transportation company, but operating with private sector efficiency.

And that I hope will help to resolve the 3 highest cost factors in Singapore:
- Expensive home
- Expensive children.
- Expensive car ownership.

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As long as I am not a member of any opposition parties or “enter” the political arena, there is no reason for them [PAP Government] to “slam” me. We are after all Singaporeans exercising our rights of freedom of expression without fear.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a family-run SME, there is no mandatory retirement age. You are employed as long as you can worked and is “useful”.
It is a “hire and fire” policy and there is no job security. Come a downturn, loyalty does not count. Only cost cutting.

In the Private Sector, the tendency is outsourcing and foreigners who are very cheaper than Singaporeans. For the average working drones, there is no chance of working beyond 60’s. Invariably, you will receive a “golden handshake” to make way for more “vigorous” (and cheaper) New Blood.

Witnesses the “golden handshakes” all round where PWD and HDB were “Corporatized and privatized”.
(The smart ones are those who accepted the “golden handshakes” and then accept a new 2-Year Employment Contract with a reduced salary.)

For civil Service, I understand it is mandatory, like those SIA union members complained that they are forced to retire even if they still wish to continue working.
Hence the complaints to MM and his comments and his “recommendations” to allow employment beyond 62 years old.

For the Armed Forces and Police, understand retirement is 45 years old. Most of the lower ranks ending up in Cisco (ex-policemen) or those security guards you see all around Singapore.

For Lt. Colonel and above, I believed most of them are offered employment in GLC. Not to waste their “talent” you know.

In Civil Service, a high flyer is defined as those reaching Superscale “G” in their 30’s.
Sometimes, those unlucky seniors in their 50’s are gracefully shunted aside to allow these high flyers to take on position of responsibility.

There is still a reluctance to employ those in the 50’s as young and competent Foreign Talents are anytime cheaper than Singaporeans in their 40’s or 50’s, never mind in their 60’s.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This topic is really on how to provide employment for those that are over 60’s to survive in Singapore.
It is not on how to retire and smell the roses in Singapore.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I meet the late Dr Lee Siew Choh at his Rakyat Clinic at Victoria Street and he lectured me:
"You man, what do you mean you not interested in politics?
You should be. Here, take these phamplets away and read them."
That was my first introduction to politics.

Meet JBJ at Raffles City MRT Station. Paid S$20 (or is it S$10?) for his book and requested he signed it.
Shaked his hand and said, "Even though I completed disagreed with your policies, I admired you as a man who standup and fight the good fight."

But the sad thing is that on this very "hot" issue, we are hearing very little discussion from the Oppostion.
Or our Press did not report it?

This is the meaning of "every views count, we welcome "out of the box" thinking, we seek diverse views...?
How about Diverse Views from the Opposition?

How about SPP, SDA and WP issuing their own "White Papers" on this topic instead of justing waiting for election campaign period to raise this issue, which concerned Singaporeans of all color of the political spectrum.

But the sad thing is that Government is from the Greek word "rudder", supposedly to be guided by the People, for the People on board this Ship of State.

It turned out that only the Captain will determine what is best for the Crew and only the Captain and his Officers knew the secret knowledge of navigation and map reading; and only them can determine the direction of travel.

They are utterly in control of the Rudder...the Crew has lost their "One Man One Vote" to coerce the Captain to listen to their choice, their belief.

The good Captain only replied:
"Dear Crew, we know and determine what is best for you, never mind what you think."

Unfortunately, this Ship of State is ageing, hull sprang a few leaks, sails need to be changed and set to catch whatever wind is there in this doldrums, worse the Crew is fast ageing and not so agile as before to man the mast and brute strength to man the rudder.

What do the Captain and his Officer do?

Are they going to sacrifice the ageing Crew to make way for the young and vigorous?
Can this Ship of State sustains and carried all those deadweights in excess of its capacity?

Will this Ship of State capizes due to "overloading" with "useless and elderly" crew?

Will the Captain Lee applied triage to save the Ship of State?

The well-being of the Whole will over-ride the concern of the Few?

That my friends is my over-riding fear of this PAP Government abandoning the Elderly and Retirees to their fate as they cannot be saved except for a horreenous expensive multi-billion dollars social welfare scheme?

Will those Young and Vigorous protests against these forthcoming "heavy" taxation scheme to "save" those elderly Singaporeans?

If Captain Lee bites this bullet without capizing the Ship of State, then I will really believe in:

"One People, One Nation, One Class".

cheers all and goodnight,

alpha · Diamond Member

Non-absolutes: Yin contains Yang; Yang contains Yin

"From The Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, we learn that the inside of the body is yin, relative to the outside of the body, which is yang. Within the body, the five viscera (liver, heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys) are yin relative to the "hollow organs" (the gall bladder, stomach, lower intestines, bladder, and the "three burning spaces"), which are yang. While all of the viscera are yin, they are yin and yang relative to one another, so that the liver and the heart are yang relative to the lungs and kidneys, which are yin. Within the heart, which is yin relative to the hollow organs and yang relative to the kidneys, we find yin and yang elements of the heart itself. If we were to dissect a portion of the heart, we would find yin and yang elements within that portion as well. This could go on ad infinitum, like opening a Chinese gift box inside a box, inside a box, inside a box… … At every level, from the most grand and cosmic to the most mundane and infinitesimal, the relationship between yin and yang persists.

Nothing is wholly yin; nothing is wholly yang. Each contains the seed of the other. Man can relate to woman because there is something of woman within man. Woman can relate to man because there is something of man within woman. Were they absolutely different, they could not relate. So it is with all things in nature; all things contain the seed of their apparent opposites.

All of this is arranged so that yin and yang (complement each other) in front and back, inside and outside, as male and female element, and they serve and respond to each other in order to conform with the yin and yang of Heaven."

Thus it is important to keep in mind that 'yin' and 'yang' are relative terms. Similar to your usage of 'feel' and 'think' in this case; each has its relative strength in different applications or situations (rather than absolute strength in ALL situations).

Grunt · The Juggernaut

Hi alpha

How things at your end ?

think what Rigpa meant about the spelling bee was what you
wrote earlier on your 23rd November 2006 post ....

alpha · Diamond Member

------------------
To Rigpa,

Chinese physicians view the human body as a microcosm of the universe, and they make no distinctions between 'nature' and 'human nature', as in Western dualism, which isolates man from his roots in nature.

It's that people tend to pretend that we humans aren't part of the biosphere that the environment is something divorced from human society.

For the ancient Taoists, man's "original nature" or natural state, is one of harmony with the universe. There is no original sin that must be overcome. Selfishness and greed are not our natural state, but only symptoms of having lost the "way".

Let disbelievers have a two-days wilderness "solo" that enabled quiet and a more direct connection with nature, both the living system within they sat and their own nature.

From a very early age, we are taught to break apart problems, to fragment the world. This apparently makes complex tasks and subjects more manageable, but we pay a hidden price. We no longer see the consequences of our actions; we lose our intrinsic sense of connection to a larger whole. When we then try to "see the big picture", we try to reassemble the fragments in our mind, to list and organise all the pieces. The task is futile—similar to trying to reassemble the fragments of a broken mirror to see a true reflection. Thus, after a while we give up trying to see the whole altogether.

When we get a bird's eye view of life - we see whole entities and systems instead of parts and details.

alpha · Diamond Member

Grunt, it has been simple, staying sane and keeping a smile on;
a retreat, honing my instincts.
Wars, which I see, are construct of some individuals, not of mass people.

I'm aware that India has enough to feed her people, China don't.
Me thought Japan conquer to plunder raw materials to spearhead its Industrialisation.

Will find chance to write more about Circular, Eco-sustainable Economy. Again, I don't know where I dump my thoughts...

Lai CF · Diamond Member

Hi People,

If Pat can put a sticky to it, I will start to elate and update my "life stroy" since then....... zipped

the main reason is that I will complete my 12 cycles of life and shoudl celebrate with a big bash.

I was thinking of inviting forummers to a "cheapo" buffet dinner on Friday night, 16-April-2010..(any suggestion where the air-conditioned ambience is quiet and has a big round table for 15 people??)

From past experience, I don't think more than 15 people with turn-up at our usual FS.Net gathering.

I must admit and thanks Pat Goh and you all friendly people for the encouragement and camaraderie whcih turned an apathetic and fearful SIngaporean to emerge from the Great SIlent Majority and dare to post under my real name as I can.

Call it a awakening of my political conciousness and the beginning of the banishment of that FEAR FACTOR Within me.

The greatest influence from FS.net, and in fact all online forums that I visited, is none other Matihal-SIngapura and Gutless as they forced me to look at another direction and to start my lifelong learning on political economics, pilosophy, political philosophy, socialism, etc and discovered Ayn Rand, Bernstein, Mises, and one thing leads to another...still learning lah..... laugh

The other major influence is Servant and Alpha as a pair from Feedback Unit Forum...and I missed ALpha and her postings; and regrettably, Servant, due to ill-health, is not as biting as before.

And of course, from FBU to YPAP Forum where I got to meet politcian like Goh Meng Seng, Chia Ti Lik, Low Thia Khiang, Vincent, et al.

*******************************************************
But from November 2005 to May 2009 was another major turning point in my life where I worked in DUbai, MAcau and then Dubai.
Where it reinforces my view that SIngapore is home, warts and all.

Although I still hanker to work in DUbai or Middle East or Macau, like a slamon, my homing instinct is still SIngpaore, to see out the ends of my days.
Nothing else matter...just die in Singapore.

And yet I am at a cross-road, can't decide?

Like Dr Poh (ex-BArisan Socialis featured in last The Sunday Times) said:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

...Robert Frost

I found my "road that is less travelled"
But do I have the courage to tread it?

Nation before Party,
Party before Family,
Family before Self.

I felt that presently, I am just drifting, purposeless and well..like a salmon swimming upstream..spawned and just waiting to die...

Life is just a grind,
an unwanted burden since I started working on 04-April-1966.
And bringing up my family,
and my books are just what are keeping me alive.

perrin99 · New Member

Mr Lai, threading through the whole thread, I realised I must have it read it before; in 2005, I posted a question on the trade unionism in the Naval Base. That research culminated in a book chapter on the leftwing unions in Paths Not Taken (2008, NUS Press).

Here I am four years later coming back you about another question on the Naval Base. Amazing how history leads us.

I enjoyed the original post, and look forward to meeting you finally. ;)

Lai CF · Diamond Member

perrin99 · New Member